1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 565 Each has a plan
Huang Zixing shook his head and said, "Forgive the grassroots, although Master Yan is the official official of Danzhou, but considering the current local situation, the Haihan people have the absolute upper hand. Even if Master Yan wants to punish them, I'm afraid it's just powerless. ?”

Although Huang Zixing's words were harsh, it was true.The two alternate officials who were assigned to Danzhou were bare-bones commanders, and they didn't even have anyone in the local area to do anything about it. How could they suppress the rich and powerful Haihan people?

It is naturally impossible for Yan Mingjun to admit Huang Zixing's statement verbally, and he coughed dryly and said, "I am in charge of the government affairs of Danzhou, but the Huangjiazhuang you mentioned is in the Fucheng area, which is no longer within the scope of my ability. , I really can’t help you.”

Huang Zixing understood the situation in Danzhou very clearly. After talking for so long, of course, it was not for the purpose of getting Yan Mingjun to back him up and deal with the Haihan people who forcibly occupied Huang's land. He nodded and said, "Caomin understands Master Yan's difficulties. Caomin didn't come here today to avenge grievances, but just to ask Sir, after coming to Danzhou, how do you feel about the local area?"

Huang Zixing had already asked this question once when he first arrived, but at that time Yan Mingjun was not so sure about Huang Zixing's position, he didn't tell the truth, and just passed it off in an official tone.At this time, Huang Zixing asked a second time. Obviously, this was not a polite remark, but hoped that he could express his true position.

Yan Mingjun hesitated for a while before responding: "Although the Haihan people have made great contributions in fighting against pirates, there are still many unreasonable things in Qiongzhou after the war. I think some things are still worth discussing."

Yan Mingjun didn't dare to speak too harshly. The story Huang Zixing told was true, but there was no circumstantial evidence as to whether the identity he reported was true. Yan Mingjun would not be so stupid as to put himself in doubt about his identity. Confess your true inner thoughts.But Yan Mingjun didn't want to miss such a dissident who had finally appeared, so he planned to use words to stabilize him first, and then make plans after trying to prove his identity later.

Huang Zixing shook his head and said, "Caomin thought that if Mr. Yan dared to contradict the Haihan people at the reception banquet, he must be a brave person. Unexpectedly... this really disappointed the Caomin."

Li Jin reprimanded: "You can judge how Lord Yan does things at will!"

"It doesn't matter!" Yan Mingjun stopped Li Jin from accusing Huang Zixing, and said with a pleasant face: "Master Huang Shan, you just said that some things cannot be changed by one's ability, even if you sit in this position, There will still be a lot of times when I can't help myself. The disagreement between the official and the Haihan people is to protect the interests of my Daming, not my own self-interest. The tragedy of the Huangjiazhuang that Huang Shanzhang mentioned just now, I am very sympathetic, but If you offend the Haihan people because of your family's affairs, without considering the political stability of Qiongzhou Island as a whole, then I don't think it's an act of righteousness."

Huang Zixing said: "Master Yan, what the grass people just said is indeed a family matter, but the grass people represent not only the people of Huangjiazhuang. After the Haihan people settled in Qiongzhou Island, the victims are not limited to Huangjiazhuang? I am deeply dissatisfied with the Haihan people and even Those who are resentful are not the only ones!"

"Huh?" Yan Mingjun's heart suddenly moved when he heard this. Could it be that Huang Zixing is not alone, but someone behind him is pushing?
Huang Zixing continued: "Lord Yan, don't think that the Haihan people have the final say on Qiongzhou Island. Although they are rich and powerful, they haven't settled in Qiongzhou for a long time, and it's only been less than four years. It's just rootless duckweed. .What they are doing now is to take root in Qiongzhou Island by collecting land. If they succeed in this, after a few years, this place will have nothing to do with Daming anymore!"

"What Huang Shanchang means is that there are quite a few people in Qiongzhou who have the same thoughts as you?" Yan Mingjun asked slowly and noncommittally.

Huang Zixing said solemnly: "Hai Han has been able to expand so fast in just a few years, and there are not a few people who have offended them. What's more, although these overseas foreigners claim to be of Han descent, they have no loyalty to the imperial court at all. With its power, those who want to serve the country have always had nowhere to go."

Huang Zixing stopped talking in the middle of the conversation, and stopped talking. He just stared at Yan Mingjun's face to see how he would respond.

Yan Mingjun is a smart person, of course he understands why Huang Zixing only speaks in half - he is worried about Huang Zixing's position, how can Huang Zixing be at ease with him?If he really revealed some key inside information, and later Yan Mingjun took this information to show his merits to the Haihan people, Huang Zixing would not be the only one who was unlucky.

Yan Mingjun took a deep breath and said, "I still have some business to deal with today, why don't I go to Huangshan Chang's Academy in two days?"

"If Mr. Yan can come here, the grassroots will naturally welcome you." Huang Zixing is also a person who can understand music, so he immediately stood up and said goodbye again: "Since Mr. Yan is busy with work, the grassroots will leave first. Zhong Ming The Academy is five miles away from the east gate, please send someone to inform you in advance when Master Yan is coming."

After sending Huang Zixing away, Yan Mingjun said to Li Jin, "Brother Li, do you think what Huang Zixing said is credible?"

Li Jin replied: "This is quite simple. Don't you have a few old government servants under your command? You will find them tomorrow, and you can find out if you ask them. Huang Zixing must be a famous person who can open an academy in Danzhou."

Yan Mingjun said: "If what he said is true, so what?"

Li Jindao: "If what he said is true, then judging from what he said, it is not only his Huang family who want to drive away the Haihan people. But it is not easy to drive away the Haihan people? The Haihan militiamen are strong and strong, even It’s because the guards are still established, so they may not be their opponents. What’s more, there are no more soldiers in Danzhou now, how can they deal with the Haihan militia? Could it be that they rely on the village guards organized by the gentry?”

Yan Mingjun shook his head and said: "If you want to fight by force, it will naturally not work. The guards can't even beat pirates, so how can they beat the Haihan militia."

Regarding the comparison of military strength on Qiongzhou Island, although Yan Mingjun is not a soldier, he can see it very clearly.Judging from the current situation, if Daming wants to re-establish an army establishment on Qiongzhou Island, I'm afraid it won't be something that can be accomplished in a short time.Not to mention that there is no such funds, even if there is such a sum of money to recruit soldiers, I am afraid that the Haihan people will come up with various methods to obstruct it.Moreover, in the teahouse today, he heard the conversation next door mentioning the treatment of the militia. The military pay paid by Haihan is much higher than that of the guards. How many people who really want to join the army will choose Daming?
Li Jindao: "There are no soldiers to use, so what you say is useless. I think this surnamed Huang is also a braggart who doesn't write drafts. Anyway, he doesn't break the law if he blows the bullshit, and he hasn't said anything useful after all."

"It seems to me that he still has something to say and is hiding something." Yan Mingjun twisted his beard and said: "I think he doesn't trust you and me that much. After all, you and I are new here. Whether you are loyal to Daming or biased toward Haihan, he doesn't know Clearly, how dare you reveal all the details about yourself? It is probably a very risky move for him to be able to talk about this."

"Then what is Brother Yan going to do?" Li Jin asked, "Are you really planning to visit his academy?"

Yan Mingjun nodded and said: "Tomorrow, first find someone to inquire about the details of Huang Zixing and Zhongming Academy. If it is credible, then arrange to go to the academy. If he really intends to resist Haihan, he can see if he can use it." place."

The next day, Yan Mingjun called He Qi to the study and asked him if he knew the situation of Zhongming Academy.

He Qi didn't know why, but he replied honestly: "Zhongming Academy is at best a medium-sized academy in Danzhou, but the head of the academy is old and stubborn. The various poetry conferences and cultural conferences funded by Han naturally gradually gained popularity. This Zhongming Academy has been guarding its own one-acre three-point land, and gradually it is not as famous as other academies. To say that the recent In [-], even the secondary academies in that place were a bit reluctant, and many students transferred to other academies."

Yan Mingjun asked: "If it's just the literary society and the poetry society, I'm afraid it won't be able to widen the gap between the academies? The strength of the academies, after all, must be reflected in the imperial examinations."

He Qi replied: "Your Excellency is really a lesson. Haihan people's support is not only for these activities, but also set up various scholarships in various academies. Anyone who has excellent grades in the academies can apply for this scholarship, which is given out every six months. It can range from ten taels to hundreds of taels! As long as students study in these academies, they will have the opportunity to receive generous rewards. Those academies that do not set up scholarships, such as Zhongming Academy, will naturally be unable to retain people .”

Yan Mingjun said: "Money touches people's hearts, and this is human nature. However, it is really inappropriate for Haihan people to pollute the academy, a place of enlightenment! In this way, this quiet place has also become a business full of the smell of copper. How can so many students devote themselves to learning?"

Although He Qi didn't think so, he still nodded in agreement.In his opinion, there is nothing wrong with being able to study and get money, especially for children from poor families, it is an excellent way of income.

Yan Mingjun continued: "Students who can resist this kind of temptation have the possibility to become great talents. This kind of behavior of the Haihan people can eliminate those students who are unstable."

He Qi responded: "Your Excellency's words are reasonable, but the Haihan people spend money in the academy is not limited to this."

"Anything else?" Yan Mingjun asked in astonishment.These tricks created by the Haihan people are actually not particularly novel. There are usually wealthy businessmen who sponsor various academies, but the Haihan people spend more generously and cover a wider range of funding objects.

He Qi said: "In addition to these scholarships, Haihan will give a certain amount of allowance during the test period to all the students in the academies that receive Haihan's funding and need to take the provincial and general examinations, which are called 'nutrition fees' For candidates who need to go to Guangzhou to catch the exam, Haihan provides a special fast boat to Guangzhou, and all the expenses on the way back and forth are exempted, and even the board and lodging during the exam in Guangzhou are covered. For scholars from poor families, it is simply irresistible!"

Yan Mingjun himself passed the imperial examination, so of course he knew how much it would cost to go to the provincial capital to catch the exam.Qiongzhou Island is located overseas, and it takes a few days to get to Guangzhou by boat, which costs more than candidates from prefectures and counties near Guangzhou.Candidates from other places with poor families often need to borrow travel expenses to take part in a general examination, and they may not be able to pass the exam. The Haihan people settled this part of the cost, which is indeed an excellent move to buy people's hearts.

Yan Mingjun said: "The people of Haihan have invested so much money, are they not afraid that they will not get it back?"

He Qi replied: "If it's about money, it's true that you can't get it back. But the hearts of the people are taken away by Haihan bit by bit. Even those students who failed the rankings, Haihan people also offer high salaries to hire them. They went to schools in Sanya to teach. In the past two years, at least hundreds of local scholars have accepted the employment of Haihan and went to Sanya in the south to work for them."

Yan Mingjun nodded slowly and said: "Then Zhongming Academy doesn't accept Haihan's set, presumably after a long time, this student will almost run away?"

He Qi responded: "To be honest, my lord, although there are many local academies in Danzhou, in the past year or so, seven out of ten academies that do not want to cooperate with Haihan have closed their doors. What your lord said Even if that Zhongming Academy didn’t close down, I’m afraid it’s not far from this ending.”

"Then what is Huang Zixing's reputation?" Yan Mingjun continued to ask.

"This...Forgive me, I really don't know." He Qi lowered his head and said, "If your lord wants to know about this person, and you allow one day, let me ask you about it."

Yan Mingjun nodded and said: "Okay then, hurry up and deal with this matter, and we will talk back tomorrow. By the way, this matter cannot be publicized."

He Qi agreed, walked out of the temporary state office, and went straight to the east of the city.After passing the residence of the current management committee of the Yuanzhou Yamen, He Qi suddenly turned into a side road, and then entered a courtyard with an open gate.

"Stop, what are you doing?" Although there was no one guarding the gate, as soon as He Qi stepped into the yard, two militiamen in gray stood up and stopped him.

He Qi quickly stopped in his tracks and responded, "The villain is He Qi, a servant of the state government office. If there is any situation, he must report to the chief!"

"And wait here!" One of the militiamen turned around and went in to report, while the other stayed where he was and stared at He Qi.

After a while, the militiaman came back, hooked his hands and said, "Follow me!"

He Qi was stepping forward, but another person stopped him with his hand: "Don't understand the rules?"

(End of this chapter)